While the vast majority of companies have some sort of diversity program in place, very few have yet to adopt any remote work policy. Although it may not seem so, breaking down location barriers is key to diversity inclusion.
Companies that do not support remote work are falling prey to location bias. Several successful employers are based in expensive cities, which automatically rules out potential top talent that cannot afford to move to these areas.
Additionally, a study from 2017 found that 14 million Americans spend over an hour traveling to work. Those who have a choice prefer living in smaller cities without long commutes as it is beneficial to their well-being.
Several companies have long, rigorous hiring practices that include multiple in-person interviews, a probation period and waiting months before a decision is made. This automatically excludes people who are unable to travel to interview locations and cannot afford to move to new locations for a probationary period.
Supporting remote working allows companies to reach out to more diverse talent, and has even been found to improve productivity. Remote working pushes companies to broaden their talent pool without increasing their budget, and in turn builds an atmosphere of empowerment.
